Fertilize your imagination with research, Kunal Basu tells aspiring writers

[email protected] (CD Network)
February 24, 2016

Mangaluru, Feb 24: “Good stories are a product of daydreaming and to be a good writer one needs to continuously feed the daydreaming mind,” said internationally acclaimed author Dr Kunal Basu. He was addressing the delegates of National Seminar on Dislocation, Identities, Multiculturism and the Diaspora' organized by the Post Graduate Department of English, St Aloysius College in association with Pan Macmillan India publishing house.

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Speaking on the creative process involved in writing, the author of five critically acclaimed novels including the recently released bestseller Kalkatta' said writing has no formula or standardized tool kit.

“Writing is a discipline developed on one's own. So I cannot tell you how to write, only how I write,” he said, “For me writing comprises three things – Impulse, Method and Appraisal. In order to generate fodder for my imagination, I expose myself to unfamiliar experiences in a planned manner. The excitement and curiosity create stories in mind, which I then put on paper.”

In exposing oneself of unfamiliar experiences, it important that one is not judgmental, he added. “I try to be more accepting of the world around me and the research in turn fertilizes my imagination.”

Besides being an author, Dr. Kunal Basu is a management educator presently serving as University Reader in Marketing at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford and a fellow of Green-Templeton College.

Earlier in his welcome address, Dr. Lourdusamy Arputhem, the chairman of the Post Graduate Department of English, said, “As teachers, we should know the undercurrents and nuances of the author, which may not be known to the lay reader.”

Dr Kunal Basu also released Scribblings', an anthology of poems written by the department students.

Fr Swebert D'Silva, Principal of the college presided over the inauguration ceremony of the seminar. Dr AM Narahari, Registrar of the college and a seminar resource person Dr Padma Baliga, Associate Professor of English, St Joseph's Autonomous College, Bangalore officiated on stage during the inauguration.

Another resource person Dr Rajalakshmi NK, Associate Professor of English, University College, Mangaluru and Vasant Kamat, Head of Product at Pan Macmillan India were present on the occasion. Dr Melisa Goveas proposed vote of thanks.

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Honest
 - 
Thursday, 25 Feb 2016

Dear Writers,
Please read the QURAN atleast once in your life time. There are many helpful thoughts to you and the society which U and the society can benefits.

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News Network
November 28,2025

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Mangaluru, Nov 28: Karnataka Health Minister and Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Friday handed over Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the severe distress faced by farmers due to crashing crop prices.

PM Modi arrived at the Mangaluru International Airport en route to Udupi, where Gundu Rao welcomed him and submitted the letter. The chief minister’s message stressed that farmers are suffering heavy losses because maize and green gram are being bought far below the Minimum Support Price (MSP). The state urged the Centre to immediately begin procurement at MSP.

According to the letter, Karnataka has a bumper harvest this year—over 54.74 lakh metric tons of maize and 1.98 lakh metric tons of green gram—yet farmers are unable to secure fair prices. Against the MSP of ₹2,400/MT for maize and ₹8,768/MT for green gram, market rates have plunged to ₹1,600–₹1,800 and ₹5,400 respectively.

The chief minister has requested the Centre to:

• Direct NAFED, FCI and NCCF to start MSP procurement immediately.
• Ensure ethanol units purchase maize directly from farmers or FPOs.
• Increase Karnataka’s ethanol allocation, citing high production capacity.
• Stop maize imports, which have depressed domestic prices.
• Relax quality norms for green gram, allowing up to 10% discoloration due to rains.

The letter stresses that MSP is crucial for farmer dignity and income stability and calls for swift central intervention to prevent a deepening crisis.

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News Network
November 30,2025

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Udupi: The pontiffs of Sri Paryaya Puttige Mutt, the sacred seat of Jagadguru Shrimad Madhvacharya Moola Samsthanam, have submitted a proposal to the Prime Minister seeking comprehensive development for Udupi district. 

Proposal for International Airport

A key request is the establishment of an international airport. Highlighting that around 1,000 acres of land are available and suitable, the pontiffs noted that the existing Mangalore Airport provides limited international connectivity. They suggested the airport be developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) or as a Greenfield Airport to boost trade, education, healthcare, and spiritual tourism.

Metro and Rapid Transit Connectivity

The proposal also calls for Metro Rail or Rapid Transit between Mangaluru and Udupi. The 55 km coastal stretch experiences heavy daily commuter traffic, causing congestion. The district administration is ready to prepare an initial project report for a Mass Rapid Transit corridor and requested inclusion under national urban mobility programmes to ensure safe, green, and time-efficient regional transport.

Port and Coastal Development

The pontiffs urged the development of an international-standard port with a cruise terminal along Udupi’s coast. They also requested fast-tracking of pending coastal tourism projects and revising Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms to encourage sustainable infrastructure and hospitality investment.

IT, AI and Technological Infrastructure

Support was sought for an IT and AI Innovation Park with incubation facilities under Digital India and Startup India initiatives. The proposal also emphasized the need for strengthened data security and cloud computing infrastructure to boost India’s technological independence.

Sports and Education Initiatives

The pontiffs requested national sports status for Kambala, along with financial and infrastructure support. They also sought the establishment of an AIIMS in Udupi, a new IIT campus, and approval for an IIM to promote higher education in the district.

Representation to the Prime Minister

Sri Sugunendra Tirtha Pontiff and Sri Sushrendra Tirtha Swamiji represented the pontiffs in submitting the comprehensive development proposal to the Prime Minister during his recent visit.

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News Network
December 5,2025

Mangaluru: In a significant step to curb online hate and intimidation, Mangaluru City Police have registered a suo motu case against multiple Instagram accounts accused of circulating alleged provocative and threatening content.

While monitoring social media activity on Tuesday, Kankanady Town PSI Anitha Nikkam identified the Instagram handle ‘team_targetttt_900’ for posting a hate message alongside images of lethal weapons. Another account, ‘team_nagara_900’, allegedly shared a threatening post targeting activist Bharath Kumdelu, tagging additional pages such as KARAVALI-OFFICIAL.

Several other accounts — including ‘immu_bhai.fan’, ‘target_boy_900’, ‘kings_of_manglore’, ‘team_target_boys.900’, ‘arshad_mangalore’, ‘target_ka19_ullal’, ‘team_target__’, ‘troll_tigersz_900’, ‘tr_group_900’, and ‘team_target_900’ — are also under scrutiny for spreading similar inflammatory material, police said.

Authorities have urged citizens, especially young social media users, to report suspicious pages and avoid engaging with groups that glorify violence or threaten individuals. Online hate can quickly escalate into real-world harm, and police stress that sharing or promoting such content can attract legal consequences.

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